DIONNE is a nostalgic album for me in the sense it was released in 1979 just after having seen Barry Manilow for the 6th time in concert (I have seen him 16 times more since - see my Barry Reviews too!). Dionne Warwick has one of those memorable industry voices and she has quite a library of hits herself. Why do I mention this? He wrote, produced, arranged and sang on this album for Dionne. The biggest single release that came from this album was of course, I'll Never Love This Way Again'.

However some of my favorites are the rerecording of Barry's own `All The Time' (with Barry on Piano) and the new `Deja Vu' are subtle ballads that expose this woman's velvet voice. Now since this was the late 70's there are two upbeat, disco reminiscent songs like `Out Of My Hands' - and my personal favorite `Who, What, When, Where, Why?'.

Now you want love songs with strings and full orchestras? `After You', `Feeling Old Feelings', `In Your Eyes' and `My Everlasting Love' are the songs for you and the romantic buried deep inside all of us. And there is even a cover song, `The Letter', which is done is a catchy toe-tapping rock rhythm style where she must have had a great time recording. The orchestrations of the strings and background vocals are signature to Barry Manilow and rise up to the heavens - as it were.

Dionne has been always one of my favorite singers and performers. She is still around and her career has spanned 4 decades. DIONNE - the album - is one of those pinnacle leaps in here career. Thanks to her tremendous talents and Barry creative help and support - she remains a star. She has a velvet voice to me. Get this one - you'll be impressed. (9-202)

Ms. Warwick issued TWO albums titled "Dionne" creating this confusion. The first was in 1972 and is the other "Dionne" offering on the website with the proper cover. The cover on this offering is from 1979, but includes the tracks from the 1972 album. I was most disappointed when I found that both are not issued (unless the above track listing is erroneous). The track listing for the 1979 album with the above cover was: Who, What, When, Where, Why; After You; The Letter; I'll Never Love This Way Again; Deja Vu; Feeling Old Feelings; In Your Eyes; My Everlasting Lover; Out of My Hands; All the Time. WHAT A SHAME that album apparently has not been reissued.

I am glad this album was finally reissued on CD -- and the sound is excellent. I have two questions, though. Why was it reissued with such cut-rate packaging? There are so many reissues on CD these days that have better notes (there are none here) and try to reproduce the original packaging. That said, it's good to have the CD at such a low price.

But why, after all, are the songs re-arranged into a different order that doesn't reflect the original album? It seems an odd move -- especially since it probably took more time to shuffle the order than simply just to copy what had, presumably, been an artistic decision.

If any one has an answer, please post it here. But don't hesitate to buy this. It's Dionne Warwick's finest album (her Bachrach-David heyday produced her greatest songs -- but they were memorable singles).

It is about time that Arista/BMG re-released an album of the legendary Dionne Warwick's with all the original songs intact. This is not a compilation of hits. It is Warwick's successful 1979 project produced by Barry Manilow. For the most astute Warwick fan this is a must. The CD has two Grammy winning songs, "Deja Vu" (written by Isaac Hayes) and "I Know I'll Never Lover This Way Again". Twenty years ago, Warwick could really hit the notes without much effort. My favorite B-sides on this memorable LP are "After You", "All The Time" and a cover of The Doors' "The Letter". Add this to your collection. Support a diva. After nearly forty years in the public eye, Miss Dionne Warwick is just that-- a much underrated and often over looked diva of the highest caliber. VH1 has yet to pay homage to the diva that put Bacharach songs on the map. Why? Why?

Great that this album was finally re-released on CD. Warwick's voice is at her best and the songs are just fantastic.

But what about all her other brilliant Arista albums from around the same time ? When are they gonna be re-released on CD?